Lead can cause serious health issues in children if it is exposed for a long time. Children are more susceptible to absorbing and retaining the lead in their bodies. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health concern as there are alarming risk factors attributed to lead exposure in children. Lead can also be found in major organs in the body as well in the teeth and bones, and it gathers as time goes by. In adults, the fetus can be affected due to the dominance of it in the body. The public health and health professionals have based guidance and measures that can be taken to prevent future lead exposure.
The enactment of laws and the elimination of lead products resulted in a reduction of lead poisoning. Elevated blood levels scientifically proved to affect children's developmental process and to learn in general. Academically, the children’s developmental processes and overall learning were highly affected (Yabe et al., 2015) . The risk factors identified among the children were majorly in children below six years. It can cause harmful problems in the body, including hearing, encephalopathy, seizures, anemia, and even death (Hauptman, Bruccoleri, & Wolf, 2017) . It can also cause children to have lower IQ scores and other behavioral issues. Major risks include abdominal pain, constipation, loss of appetite, and even memory loss. To prevent children from lead exposure, lead hazards should be removed from the environment where children are exposed (Roberts et al., 2016). A blood test is the best way to measure the exposure of lead. Additionally, to curb future effects, permanent removal of lead hazards from the environment will benefit future birth cohorts.
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In conclusion, high levels of exposure to lead leads to the attack of the brain in children. Among the few who survive they are exposed to mental illness and disruptions on how they behave. A series of spectrum of injuries, renal impairment, and toxicity to the reproductive system. In utmost cases, these effects can neither be reversed neither prevented through modern ways. In situations of high chances the entire community is conceded in matters of health. Hence, the best way to deal with lead poisoning is early prevention.
References
Yabe, J., Nakayama, S. M., Ikenaka, Y., Yohannes, Y. B., Bortey-Sam, N., Oroszlany, B., ... & Mweene, A. (2015). Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead–zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia. Chemosphere , 119 , 941-947.
Hauptman, M., Bruccoleri, R., & Woolf, A. D. (2017). An update on childhood lead poisoning. Clinical pediatric emergency medicine , 18 (3), 181-192.
Hai, D. N., Tung, L. V., Van, D. K., Binh, T. T., Phuong, H. L., Trung, N. D., ... & Khue, P. M. (2018). Lead Environmental Pollution and Childhood Lead Poisoning at Ban Thi Commune, Bac Kan Province, Vietnam. BioMed research international , 2018 .
Roberts, J. R., Hulsey, T. C., Curtis, G. B., & Reigart, J. R. (2016). Using geographic information systems to assess risk for elevated blood lead levels in children. Public Health Reports .
